Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering News

Alumnus Wins Prestigious PECASE Award

Aug 16, 2019

Jonathan Sauder, a NASA JPL engineer, lands “highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on early career scientists and engineers” for his work on RainCube and Venus Rover.

Up, Up and Away!

Aug 13, 2019

L.A. Youth Gain Hands-On Engineering Experience at Three-Day Camp Hosted by the USC Viterbi Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Swimming like a Shark

Jul 16, 2019

USC Viterbi Assistant Professor Mitul Luhar Develops an Algorithm to Optimize Surfaces for Fast, Frictionless Motion in Water and Air

Addressing the Urgent Need for Early and Accurate Tools in Diagnosing and Treating Cancer

Jul 09, 2019

Assad Oberai demonstrates how machine learning can be used to more quickly and accurately diagnose breast cancer.

USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory Shatters Student Altitude Record

May 22, 2019

Traveler IV is reportedly the first entirely student-designed and built rocket to pass the Kármán line into outer space

It’s What’s Inside that Counts, Unless You’re a Robotic Fish

May 15, 2019

Mechanical engineering students challenged themselves to make a robotic fish that not only swims like a real fish, but looks the part too, demonstrating the possibilities inherent to soft robotics.

USC Viterbi Ph.D.s Win 1st and 3rd Place at SME’s AeroDef Manufacturing Poster Challenge

May 13, 2019

Graduate students from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering present award-winning research in smart robotics

Is Communication the Key to Fighting Cancer?

Apr 29, 2019

The more cancer cells “talk” to each other, the less they grow. New research by USC Viterbi’s Paul Newton looks to encourage this.

USC Viterbi Teams Shine at MEPC

Apr 05, 2019

From an all-women undergraduate team to teams comprised of Ph.D. students, the ninth rendition of the business model competition brings new meaning to engineering innovation.

Creating safer waterways with driverless ships

Apr 04, 2019

Researchers develop an autonomous ship guidance system using probabilistic modeling and AI

Can aircraft engines benefit from turbulence?

Apr 03, 2019

In a prestigious summer program at Stanford University, Viterbi PhD students collaborate with leading researchers in their field to study airplane engines

Making a zero-emissions fuel even more effective

Apr 02, 2019

Researchers study how to get even more out of hydrogen fuel to improve engine efficiency

A Robotic Leg, Born Without Prior Knowledge, Learns to Walk

Mar 11, 2019

New AI algorithms could allow robots to learn to move by themselves, imitating animals.

2018 AME Senior Project Showcase

Dec 17, 2018

Undergraduate students enrolled in AME 441A show off their semester’s work

Power Siblings at USC Viterbi

Nov 30, 2018

Presidential Scholarship Winning Duo, Brother and Sister Miles and Evie Kay, studying to be engineers

A Maker Space For The Ages

Nov 14, 2018

The Baum Family Maker Space, which will establish a new hub for undergraduate student innovation, positions USC Viterbi as a leader in hands-on engineering learning.

Are We Ready to Leave Low Earth Orbit?

Oct 09, 2018

“First Man” screening event celebrates Neil Armstrong (M.S. ’70), spotlights Trojan space pioneers and “the next giant leap” in space exploration

IEC3 Camp Teaches Middle School Girls about Careers in Aerospace Engineering

Sep 14, 2018

The USC Viterbi outreach program premiered its second annual STEM education camp for middle school girls, featuring major voices from aerospace engineering

Unique Mars spacecraft design earns engineering students a big win from NASA

Jul 06, 2018

USC Viterbi students design a deep-space transport with artificial gravity, earning first place in the graduate division of NASA’s student competition

Biologically Inspired Robotics

May 21, 2018

In this undergraduate course, students look to nature to design and build robots that mimic the movement of animals

Eureka! Eureka! The Class of 2018 Has Found It

May 12, 2018

After long nights that muddled into early mornings in SAL, CED, and Leavey, they’re ready to set sail

Master’s Class For The Ages

May 12, 2018

2018 USC Viterbi master’s students shared hugs, laughs and memories at graduation ceremonies.

2018 Viterbi Master’s Student Awards

May 11, 2018

Accomplishments of Viterbi Master’s students celebrated at the second annual event

Marie Curie Dropped the Ph.D. Mic 115 Years Ago. These Trojans Picked It Up.

May 10, 2018

At the 2018 USC Viterbi Ph.D. Hooding and Awards ceremony, the intellectual descendants of Curie, Drexler and Viterbi took the stage.

Rise Of A Leader Engineer

May 08, 2018

USC NSBE President turns trials into triumphs by taking National Best Medium Chapter for NSBE while finishing her undergraduate degree at USC.

USC Viterbi’s AeroDesign Team takes 6th place

May 04, 2018

The student-led model aircraft team places 6th at the AIAA international Design Build Fly competition

Senior Mechanical Engineers Win 1st Place at AIAA Conference

Apr 27, 2018

At the regional AIAA Student Conference, three mechanical engineering seniors placed 1st in the undergraduate paper competition

USC hosts SoCal Fluids Symposium

Apr 24, 2018

Students and faculty from nine local universities attended the 12th annual Southern California Flow Physics Symposium (SoCal Fluids) at USC’s main campus

Winning Big

Apr 19, 2018

USC Viterbi faculty, students receive multiple awards at the 2018 OCEC Awards and Honors Banquet.

Clear Skies Ahead

Apr 18, 2018

USC Viterbi marks 10-year aviation research collaboration with Airbus, Korean Air and two affiliated universities

Using AI to detect heart disease

Apr 16, 2018

Researchers apply machine learning to create a quick and easy method for measuring changes linked to cardiovascular disease

USC student team places 4th at the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge

Apr 09, 2018

The student-led Recumbent Vehicle Design Team took 4th place overall at ASME’s annual racing competition, including 1st and 3rd place finishes in multiple events

Can we imitate organisms’ abilities to decode water patterns for new technologies?

Apr 04, 2018

USC researchers train AI to distinguish flow patterns created by swimmers

USC’s Chapter of National Society of Black Engineers Named Best in the Nation

Mar 28, 2018

The national honor reflects USC NSBE’s strength in “academic excellence, professional development, and community outreach.”

Optimizing chemotherapy schedules using evolutionary game theory

Mar 27, 2018

USC Viterbi researchers apply biology-based mathematical models to optimize chemotherapy treatment

USC Viterbi’s AeroDesign Team: A winning history

Feb 26, 2018

Faculty advisor Charles Radovich recounts his favorite competitions

Reimagining the Future of Air Travel

Feb 20, 2018

USC Viterbi researchers consider ways to improve aircraft efficiency and fuel economy

USC Viterbi Alumna Helps Underrepresented Groups Pursue College and STEM

Feb 09, 2018

Recent USC Viterbi alumna uses her experiences as a first-generation college student to encourage others to pursue a college education

It’s Cold in Space; But Not as Cold as It Could Be

Jan 04, 2018

USC alumna and adjunct research associate professor Anita Sengupta led a project to create the coldest spot in the solar system on the International Space Station and now is bringing space travel here on Earth

“Real Deal @ USC” showcases impressive startups from around the country

Jan 04, 2018

Entrepreneurs of young, exciting companies gather in SCilicon Beach for an evening of networking and dual-use ventures

The First Annual AME Senior Project Showcase

Dec 14, 2017

From rocket engines to flapping wings, senior mechanical and aerospace engineering students show off their work.

Meet USC Racing’s Team Captains

Dec 04, 2017

A Q&A with the undergraduate students who run this year’s Formula SAE racing team

Making a Splash

Nov 15, 2017

How a diver’s shape and impact force affect the characteristics of a splash

My Summer Learning about High-performance Computing from Argonne National Laboratory

Nov 15, 2017

What PhD student Jonathan Hoy learned from the Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing

She’s Out of This World

Nov 15, 2017

Nina Singh BME ’19 receives an Astronaut Scholarship, an honor reserved for the best and brightest STEM college students

Nanofab Lab Dedicated to Former USC Viterbi Executive Vice Dean John O’Brien

Nov 13, 2017

Michelson Center based facility expected Opening in 2018

High School Students Attend AME STEM Spotlight

Oct 25, 2017

The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering opens its doors to local high school students to encourage STEM education and careers

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Oct 16, 2017

USC STEM middle and high school students descend upon an open house tour of USC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing

“Break to Make”

Sep 29, 2017

The winners of the University’s first all-woman makeathon.

M.C. Gill Composites Center work on CFRP Hat Stiffened Panels for Aerospace Applications

Sep 27, 2017

M.C. Gill Composites Center researchers featured in video highlighted by NASA Structural Analysis

M.C. Gill Composites Center Works on Re-Use of Production Waste

Sep 26, 2017

M.C. Gill Composites researcher receives top honors at national research competition

Serving the People

Sep 22, 2017

William Rose, former Marine and current mechanical engineering master’s student at USC Viterbi, spends his free time volunteering for the American Red Cross.

Drastically reducing fuel consumption and emissions of commercial aircraft

Sep 20, 2017

Gabilan Assistant Professor Alejandra Uranga’s work on an MIT/NASA project offers a way to save fuel and reduce emissions via propulsion-airframe integration

The Goldilocks Wing: Popular Airfoil Design Defies Aerodynamic Standards

Sep 19, 2017

Professor Spedding’s tests on a small (but not too small) sized airfoil yields surprising results in lift

Cilia: “The Bouncer” of Bacteria

Sep 08, 2017

Paper by USC Viterbi and University of Hawaii faculty elucidates active role of cilia in regulating flow for bacteria filtering and enhancing chemical communication.

IN MEMORIAM: Phillip Muntz, Emeritus Professor of Astronautics

Aug 04, 2017

Phillip Muntz, Emeritus Professor of Astronautics, passed away Aug. 1, 2017

Professor Domaradzki Appointed AME Department Chair

Jul 14, 2017

A long-time faculty, Julian Domaradzki continues his service in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, now as department chair

Better, Faster, Smarter: Making Agile Robots

Jul 14, 2017

USC Center for Advanced Manufacturing team comes in first at the Agile Robotics for Industrial Automation Competition (ARIAC)

2017 Viterbi Master’s Student Awards

May 23, 2017

Accomplishments of Viterbi Masters students celebrated in inaugural event

USC Viterbi 2017 Undergraduate Awards

May 23, 2017

Graduating students from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering were recognized on May 10th at the 2017 Undergraduate Viterbi Awards for their academic, leadership, and service achievements.

Clues to a father’s life, charting a daughter’s future

May 12, 2017

She wanted to uncover her father’s ‘dangerous secrets’, she discovered a world of endless possibilities

The AeroDesign Team Turns a Crash into a Victory

May 08, 2017

The student-led model aircraft team wins first place at the AIAA international Design Build Fly competition.

Up, up and away at the 2017 faculty and staff awards

May 03, 2017

Honoring the work and dedication of USC Viterbi faculty and staff

Senior Design Projects Win Big at AIAA Conference

Apr 27, 2017

Senior undergraduate AME Students were awarded first and third place at the AIAA regional Student Paper Conference

Fair Finances

Apr 27, 2017

HonestFi, a startup that provides financial services to low-income Americans without the sky-high commissions, has won the 2017 Min Family Challenge.

USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory Breaks Record

Mar 16, 2017

Student-run RPL launches rocket of own design to 144,000 feet

S.K. Gupta named holder of the Smith International Professorship in Mechanical Engineering

Mar 10, 2017

Professor S.K. Gupta, a world-renowned expert in advanced manufacturing, will also head the Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

Manufacturing For A Better Tomorrow

Mar 06, 2017

The opening of the USC Viterbi Center for Advanced Manufacturing promises to help usher in a new age how things are made.

The Best And The Brightest

Mar 01, 2017

USC Viterbi alumnus Jung Kian Ng Jung has won a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship and will pursue graduate studies at England’s Oxford University.

From 32nd Street to Wall Street, how ‘the Toussaint method’ works

Feb 27, 2017

This engineering student is an extracurricular extraordinaire with a drive towards leadership.

‘We didn’t want to just give them a glass of clean water for a day’

Feb 22, 2017

Kirsten Rice empowers communities in developing countries to produce their own clean water

Making StarSCream Transform

Feb 16, 2017

The AeroDesign Team held their Critical Design Review for this year’s competition plane, StarSCream

Controlling Hypersonic Airflow

Feb 09, 2017

Assistant Professor Ivan Bermejo-Moreno investigates strategies to control air dynamics and reduce stress on aircraft engines

USC Viterbi Center for Advanced Manufacturing to Open in February

Jan 20, 2017

Center will be the SoCal node of a new multi-university DOD grant on robotics

“Aviate, Navigate, Communicate”: The Rules of Flying

Dec 20, 2016

How Wyatt Sadler, founding member, pilot and industry advisor of USC’s AeroDesign Team, took his childhood hobby to the next level.

Mitul Luhar Awarded Air Force Young Investigator Grant

Nov 30, 2016

Assistant Professor Mitul Luhar was awarded a $360,000 grant to research turbulence control using porous and patterned surfaces

Racing to the Top

Nov 14, 2016

The USC Racing team designs a car worthy of the FSAE leaders’ board

Aboard the Spirit of Freedom

Nov 09, 2016

David Long had the power of the USS George Washington at his fingertips, now he is pursuing a Masters in engineering

Eva Kanso Awarded $1 Million NSF INSPIRE Grant

Sep 29, 2016

AME Associate Professor Eva Kanso receives NSF INSPIRE grant to study bacteria-host interaction

Anne Patricia Suntano: Living the Trojan Values

Sep 29, 2016

One of Forbes’ “50 Most Powerful Businesswomen in Asia,” alumna embodies courage, ambition and discipline

Testing Drones and Building Mobile Games

Aug 11, 2016

Students in the USC – Base 11 Summer Mentorship Program complete inaugural session

Escape Velocity Episode 2 “The Escape of Bogdan Marcu”

Jun 15, 2016

A rocket scientist’s journey from behind the Iron Curtain to the frontiers of space